A Rutland man faces up to 35 years in jail for an alleged assault and robbery with a BB gun.

Roosevelt M. Norris, 44, pleaded innocent Tuesday to felony charges of assault and robbery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated assault with a weapon.

When Norris’ public defender Nelson Floyd argued that setting bail at $75,000 was too high for an offense involving a BB gun, Judge Theresa DiMauro said she disagreed.

“It’s still capable of causing serious bodily injury if shot in the eye,” the judge said.

According to an affidavit filed by Rutland City Police Detective Samson Delpha, Norris wouldn’t have had to be much of a marksman to hit such a vulnerable target.

During the alleged assault on Monday afternoon, Norris allegedly pressed the muzzle into 32-year-old Robert Grady’s eye while threatening to shoot him in the eye and the ear.

Grady told police that he was at his 21 Church St. apartment sometime after 5 p.m. Monday when Norris, who Grady said he knows by the names “B” and “Maserati,” knocked on his door.

He said he answered his door to find Norris pointing a gun at him that looked like a Glock handgun. Grady said Norris shot him with pellets while charging him. Grady told police he fell to the ground, and Norris got on top of him, striking him in the head and ribs with the butt of the gun.

While on top of Grady, Norris allegedly demanded to know “Where is the (expletive) phone?”

Grady said he was in fear for his life when he handed over his cell phone, a credit card and a jewelry box in the apartment.

Police say Grady was taken to Rutland Regional Medical Center where it took five staples to close a wound to his head.

Norris left the apartment but was arrested soon after in Castleton at the Trak Inn. Police say he was found with a carbon dioxide-powered BB gun along with Grady’s phone, the credit card and a jewelry box.